“I never touched—”
“Take keer! Don’t lie to me! I ask ye as a friend to keep a straight tongue. I expect ye to try it on, but it’s no use. So don’t lie. Don’t I know ye? Didn’t ye stand behind me when ye cut the withe? Wasn’t it cut through and through? I ain’t quite a fool, nuther be you. So shut up. You cut it yerself, jist to git rid of the Dutchman, I s’pose, because of yer old grudge ag’in’ him.”
Jules covered his confusion by a laugh. He thought best to turn it off in that way.
“Well, Ben, I did cut the withe; but it was a joke, just to give that Dutchman a big scare. I had no idea the raft would get away.”
“A joke. I cum pooty nigh makin’ it the dearest jest you ever hearn of.”
“You don’t suppose I meant any thing in earnest,” said Jules, cringingly.
“It don’t matter so much what I think,” said Ben. “I believe Jan has a v’ice in the matter, an’ I reckon he’d say if it wa’n’t in earnest it was the roughest joke on him ever hern of. Anyhow, I’ve got my opinion, and I’ll back it for ten mills, U. S. currency, that he licks you out of your boots when he hears about this nice little joke. Ef he don’t lick ye, he’s a fool.”
“He dare not lay the weight of a finger upon me in anger,” said Jules, fiercely. “He has done it more than once. Let him beware of the next time.”
“I’ve had a hint before to-day thet all ain’t right. I begin to suspect ye grevious. I won’t say anything about that now. About Jan first; he ain’t a bit afraid of you, Jan ain’t. Now let me give you a piece of advice. I don’t want to hev any words with you. Jest let the Dutchman alone. He’s clumsy, mebbe, but he’s got the makin’ of a man in him, and he’s good-hearted, an’ I won’t hev him abused. Thet’s about the way the thing stands now, nigh as I kin git at it.”
“You seem to have taken to him all at once,” muttered Jules.